NSW officials have been urged to seek State of Origin dispensation for four-time premiership prop Moses Leota, who has spent more than half his life living in western Sydney, but falls short of the selection criteria because he arrived in Australia four months too late.
The NRL revamped its Origin eligibility rules at the start of the year to allow New Zealand and England internationals to represent the Blues or Maroons, provided they lived in NSW or Queensland before their 13th birthday.
Leota, who turned 13 in July 2008, moved with his family from Auckland to Sydney in November. He started playing with St Marys the following year – in the under-14 division two team – before he rose through the Panthers’ junior system.
Penrith and NSW great Mark Geyer said “common sense” should prevail when it came to Leota, and if the NRL did give him the green light, it would “not open the floodgates” for a host of other players to follow suit.
Only Queensland’s Jason Taumalolo, who arrived in the Sunshine State when he was 13, and Ronaldo Mulitalo, who was picked by the Maroons in 2021, only to be sensationally ruled out when the NRL discovered he did not meet the criteria, could make a case for being reconsidered.
“Moses has spent more than half his life in Australia, and I used to coach against him when he was with St Marys and I was with Brothers,” Geyer said.
“Moses is as Penrith as they come. Common sense needs to prevail here. I’d happily see Moses play for NSW, and I’d be just as glad if Taumalolo and Mulitalo were available for Queensland.
“I’d definitely have Moses in my 19-man squad. He’s in career-best form.”
Leota said before he flew out for Darwin with the Panthers on Thursday morning he would love to be unleashed against Queensland.
“One hundred per cent I’d love to play for NSW, and I’ve been here more than half my life,” he said.
“I’ve been to watch Origin games, and have always loved the hype and the intensity. I loved watching Paul Gallen and the way he went after the game, and took on anything and anyone.
“It would be mad to play. I don’t hate Queensland, but I’m definitely a Blues’ supporter.”
Leota confirmed the Blues contemplated picking him several years ago, and he had been ready to enter Blues camp, only for officials to realise he was not eligible.
Greg Alexander, another Penrith great who was involved with the Blues when Leota first popped on their radar, said he would love it if the NRL made an exception, especially given the 30-year-old missed the cut-off by a few months.
“I thought Moses would be perfect for Origin a few years ago, and nothing has changed – he’s one of the best front-rowers in the game, and was crucial for us in all four grand final wins,” Alexander, who is also a Panthers board member, said.
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed the NRL is willing to assess any Origin request put to them by NSW or Queensland.
The same sources said the fact Leota missed the eligibility cut-off by months, rather than more than a year, could work in his favour.
The NRL has also shown since the COVID pandemic it is prepared to be flexible with any policy changes if they are in the best interests of the game.
NSW’s front row stocks are healthy, with Brisbane’s Payne Haas, South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi, Melbourne’s Stefano Utoikamanu, Cronulla’s Addin Fonua-Blake and Wests Tigers’ Terrell May all in form. Roosters enforcer Spencer Leniu returned from a hamstring injury last weekend and Blues incumbent Mitch Barnett is listed to return from a thumb injury this weekend, while his New Zealand Warriors’ teammate Jackson Ford is one of the form props in the competition.
